Game apparatus



R. CHRISTY GAME APPARATUS Oct. 8, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, 1965 Fl G 2 INVENTOR. RAYMOND CHRISTY BY FIG 6 FIG5 . Oct. 8, 1968 R. cHRlsTY GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 52 Filed May 10, 1965 Fl G 4B I FIG 4A INVENTOR. RAYMOND CH RISTY 3,'404,890 GAME PPARATUS t Raymond Christy, 80 Sheridan Blvd., Mineo'la, N.Y'.* 11501 Filed May 10,'1965, Ser. No. 454,431

` 1 Claim..(Cl. 273--130) -ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Game apparatus having a flat base member having a plurality of hollow cylinder 'members with Vertical extensions attached to the periphery thereof 'mounted in spaced-rows, the rowslbeing colo-r coded. A plurality of rods are adapted 'to be placed inside the hollow members and, a' plurality of link members with Y sha'ped slots in their ends arel adapted to connect the cylin'ders. Both the rods 'and the link members are also color c`oded. The idea is for' the'two players to select one color and form a chain across the board. The players take turns and may block the chain the opponent is trying to build in accordance with the rules.

This invention' relates to game apparatus and more particularly to apparatusfor playing a game involvin-g the movingiand placing o f mechanical .pieces or links to form a path across a board.

The invention generally compris'es a flat base member and aplurality of hollow. cylinder or post members or tubes mounted in spaced rows. The first row is color codedl'in onefcolor, the second rio'w is color coded in another color, etc. The members or posts of the alternating rows areloffset fromeach other so that the configuration of the board'of'a'ny four adjacent members of one color re squa'res and the squares lformed by the different color members overlap. w

A plurality of -rod's |offtwo different colors are provided, saidfrods being adapted to 'be placed inside said hollow 'cylin'derinembersi A -plurality o f. link members are provided, one'se't of each of the two colors. The posts or cylinde-rs have projections .and the: link members have slots on their ends solto be fitted in between the post members. The idea is for 'the two players'to select one color and form an unbrokenchain across the board. The players'taketurns and may block the chains the opponent is trying 'to build.

The linksmust be connected to posts of the same color. The rods must be used in 'the same color posts except they may be also used to block in the opponent`s color posts.

The chains may be in upper or lower level and to accomplish this the slots and the links of the end members -are arranged so that one slot extends all the way through` so that the member would slide do'wnto the bottom of the post. The link members ha've other slots 'per- ;pendicular to the first vslot' ektending only half way through so that this slot Would =rest on top of the projection of the post members and form an upper path. The players move in succession. The player may block the other players path by making appropriate moves as will be described.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new an'd improved 'game apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and im'proved game apparatus comprising a flat base member, a plurality of hollow cylinder members mounted in spaced rows on said base member, a plurality of round rods of two different colors, said round rods being adapted to be put into said hollow cylinder members, and a plurality of link members adapted to fit between said cylinder members.

These and other objects of the invention 'will 'be appar- United. States Patent :O

3,404,890 Patented Oct. 8, 1968 ent from the following specificatonv and drawings of which: v

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the 'game board with several link members showing.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the em'bodiment of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE.3 is a perspective detal view operation of the game.

FIGURES 4A and 4B are detail operation of the game.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of the link members.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 shows a rod member.

Re'fe'rring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the game board B is a flat member which is adapted to be table mounted. Mounted on the table are a plurality of rows 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of hollow cylindrical tube members or posts. The alternate rows are color co'ded in two different colors for instance, the odd number rows mafy be color coded Red and the even colored rows may -be colored White.

Referring also to FIGURE 3, note that each post 11a, 12a, etc. has projections 11', 12', etc. Each -post has one or 'more projections, and may have as many as four .projections. The projections extend in the directions of adjacent posts of the same color. The purpose of these projections is toyreceive the link members. There are two sets of link members one of each color.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, the link members 50 hav'e a slot at each end which extends all the way through and a second slot perpendicular to the first slot Iwhich extends half way through. When the link members are 'placed between the posts so that the full slots engages the projection, then the link member will fall down to the bottom of the 'posts on top of the base and form a lower path. When the half slot engages the projection, then the link members remain on top of the projection and form an upper path.

Two sets of rod members R, FIGURE 7, are provided one set of each color and these rod members are adapted to fit into the hollow post. The idea of the game is to form a complete path of linked rods across the board. The Red player will use the Red pieces, and rods to form a path by connecting them to the Red posts. The White player will use the White pieces and rods and attempt to form a path across the board by connections. The players move in perpendiculardirection for instance, the Red player would move down in FIGURE 1, and the White player either moves to the right or to the left of FIGURE 1. The opponent may block a playerfs v`path by extending his own pieces across the path either in the upper or lower position or by inserting his own rod in the path of the opponent in one of the opponent's hollow members. To win, the game the player must complete a path to the opposite side of the board from the starting position and this path must be complete including his own members in the hollow posts in the path. There are any number of paths and various combinations of moves so that the game is not predictable but offers an element of skill and suspense.

The detailed rules are as follows:

Object T-o complete an unbroken path of one color from one edge of the board to the other.

illustrating the views illustrating the (3) Toss of coin or,l other agreement determineslwlio goes first.

(4) First move can be anywhere on the board with either square links or round rods. Round rods go in a vertical tube. Square links connect the same color tubes on an upper or lower level. Square links will drop to the bottom when turned on one side and remain at the top of the tub'es when placed on the other side.

(5) Players must play the same kind of piece alternately. If the first player chooses to play a round rod first, the second player must do likewise. The same rule applies when four play. The second move must'then be made with a square link. Play then continues as before. 'Ihe procedure is similar if the first player chooses to play a square link first. An opponent's square link cannot rest on top of one another on the lower level. Players can waive Rule 5 and play any piece at any time without restrictions. A similar but entertaining game will ensue.

(6) When a player wants to make a move on the lower level and the opponent's piece on the upper level makes this difiicult, the player is permitted to remove his opponent's square link and replace it when he drops his square link in the appropriate position. The resulting position would appear as in FIGURE 3.

(7) When two play, each is allowed to *break i.e. -block with a rod, the opponent's chain or link no more than three times. When partners play the same rule applies between them.

(8) The winner is the player that can complete a path or chain of links from one edge of the board to the other. A path or chain is complete when all the tubes involved in the chain are filled, with the same color, and the square links connect the tubes on either the upper or lower level.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a path by the White player from the point at post 20 to posts 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29. The dotted lines between posts 24 and 30` show a move which was blocked by the Red member at posts 31 and 32. The Red members 33 and 34 between the posts 31, 32, and 35 and Red member 37 show where the Red player blocked the White player`s progress. No rod blocks are shown in this simple illustration.

The above illustrated moves are somewhat elementary and it is seen that various other combinations and blocks could have been made so that the path would not be easy to complete. The number of pieces and moves available to each player are not limited. The requirement is that a complete path be established in the direction of motion including filling all the posts in the path. Also, paths may be partially on the upper half and partially on the lower path. There are numerous combinations of moves and Strategy involved and it is noted that a player cannot hope to win if he is completely on the defensive so that he must be trying to make his own path at the same time trying to block his opponent. A block is made by a person playing his own color link across the path or by placing his color rod in one of the posts in the proposed path. The number of rod blocks are limited to three by the above rules but this number could be changed if desired.

FIGURE 3 is a detail view illustrating two Red posts 12a and 41 with a Red link 42 in the upper path and two White posts 43 and 11a with a White link 45 in the lower path. Note that the players are proceedingiinV` p'erpendletilar directions.

FIGURE 4A shows how White has prevented Red from forming a chain between posts and 56.

FIGURE 4B shows how Red has broken a possible chain of White by filling White posts 57 with the Red rod58.

FIGURES s. ana 6 iilustratyprca'fiink member so having slots 51'and 52'onerat each end and which extend all the way through the link. Ther member also has half slots 53 and 54 which areperpendicular to the first slots. The full slots are usedmin. making a lower path and the half slots an upper path or block as the case may be.

Various modifications m'ay be made by those who desire to practice the invention for instance, the connections t need not be by slots or projectons but other connecting means may be used. Also, the posts do not have to be cylindrical but may be made in other shapes or the posts may be solid and the use of the rods eliminated or substituted for. The game could be made for more than two levels of paths for instance, there may be an intermediate path. More than two colors could be used. Other variations and modifications will occur to those who wish to practice the invention.

I elaim:

1. Game apparatus comprising:

a flat base member,

a plurality of hollow cylinder members mounted in spaced rows on said base member,

'a plurality of round rods of two different colors, sa'id round rods being adapted to be put into said hollow cylinder members,

a plurality of link members adapted to link between iadjacent cylinder members,

said cylinder members having longitudinal projectons along'their surface extending in the direction of adjacent cylinder members,

said link members having slots therein adapted to fit over said projectons,

said link members having first slots one at each end extending through said link members,

and a second set of slots one at each end, said second slots being perpendicular to said first slots and extending only half way through said link members.

References Cited RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examncr.

P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner. 

